Ashley submitted all her paperwork at the front desk and went to the nursing station on the fifth floor as per instruction.

"Hello," she bowed a little to the elderly nurse sitting behind the counter.

The nurse looked at her with a question in her eyes.

"I am the new consultant here, I was asked to report today on this floor."

"Name please," the nurse nodded opening a register.

"Dr. Ruth. Ashley Charlotte Ruth."

"Here you are," The nurse smiled and pointed to one name out,
"Neurosurgery, huh?"

Ashley nodded.

"You will be accompanying Dr. Han. He is the chief of neurosurgery here. You can wait for a little, he is in his round now. By the way, I am Park Aera."

"Nice to meet you," Ashley smiled back.

"Have a seat there," The nurse indicated the chairs near.
Ashley again bowed and sat on the chair in the hallway, waiting for Dr. Han to finish his duty.

Half an hour passed by and she decided to come back later. She had a class in the afternoon, she has to go if she didn't want to miss that.

"Ummm...Ma'am, I..." Ashley approached the nurse in the station again, "I need to go, I have classes at the uni, so can I come back later?"

"Oh, no...please don't call me ma'am. As an elder, we prefer unnie," The lady smiled sweetly.

"Unnie?" Ashley smiled back. "Still gotta learn a lot I guess."

"Don't worry about that." The lady touched her hand, "everybody here, knows English a little bit. You won't have to feel uncomfortable. And call any nurse whenever you have to attend to patients, they will help you to translate and communicate. I know it's hard to work in an unknown place, but I wish we would make a good team."

"Thank you very much," Ashley bowed gratefully.

"And this one here," The lady patted the shoulder of a younger girl beside her, "she is the best in English here. She'll help you."

"I am Yuri. Nice to meet you, Dr." The girl immediately got up straight and bowed.

Ashley saw someone shoved a clipboard on the counter from behind her. She looked at the person. He was an older man in his early sixties. Ashley moved a little to the side to give him space. He didn't look at her, rather said something to the elderly nurse. The nurse replied something pointing at Ashley.
The man took a good look at her putting his glasses back on.

He stretched his hand towards Ashley, "Hello, heard you are the consultant I've been waiting for. I am Dr. Han."

Ashley shook his hand and bowed, "I am Dr. Ruth. Nice to meet you."

"Dr. Ruth?" He seemed trying to remember something. " Dr. A. Ruth?"

"Yes, Ashley Ruth," Ashley agreed.

"Weren't you the one who won WFNS last year?" He was smiling confidently.

"Yes. I did," Ashley smiled shyly.

"I was there to attend too. I must say, very impressive work, Dr. Ruth!" Dr. Han complimented.

"Thank you very much. I am looking forward to working with you."

"You didn't apply to be a full-time consultant here, why's that?" He asked curiously.

"I am completing the P.hd here in SNU. So I won't have much time for practicing. But you know, gonna have to make a living!" Chuckled Ashley.
" So planning to work side by side, but not fully."

"That's impressive," Smiled Dr. Han.
"But you could have to get in the Ivy league with that profile. Why SNU?"

"Some reasons," smiled Ashley back carefully avoiding the topic. "And I am liking it here."

"Yeah, Korea is a nice country. Hope you enjoy your staying here," Dr. Han said looking upon a paper Park Aera gave him.

"So you'll work here on three days a week, no night shifts, no emergencies apart from your duty time, just routine surgeries and patients attendings, right?"

"Yeah, I'll have to work on my thesis and attend the course under my professor," replied Ashley.

"Well, then see you around. Join the next Monday. You'll meet my team then."

Ashley was pleased, working here probably won't be boring or hard. The people were friendly enough to feel at home.

Ashley came out and took a bus back to her apartment. She could have got a seat in the SNU dorm, but she preferred to stay outside as she has to work regularly. She searched up studio apartments around the area but at the season's peak, maximum apartments were already rented by the students as they near the university. She found some apartments but those were either too shabby or too fancy or too far. She ended up leasing a minimalist loft apartment in Gwanak-Gu for four years and already finished up depositing the whole money before coming to Korea. It was a bit costly, but she loved that fully furnished tiny duplex. It was perfect for two persons and a gem only for herself.

It took fifteen minutes for her to get to her apartment. she had another class in two hours leaving her enough time to take a shower and have lunch.

She entered the apartment after entering the passcode. The apartment was tiny, a little space with a three-seater L-shaped couch against a large window, a small shelf with a TV on it against the opposite wall, a small tea table which is now moved to the side of the shelf. Kitchen and a little dining space with a kitchen table there. The place was fully furnished with everything needed.
A narrow wooden staircase went up to the second floor having a toilet and a small bedroom with an attached bath.

She had a medium bed and closet and bookshelf in the bedroom which was now already filled with med books and journals. There was a desk with chairs for her study at a corner near the window.
It was a bit fancier for her, but it was more than perfect.
She took a shower quickly and ate quietly.

She picked up the phone immediately after the phone rang.

"Hey."

"I miss you," Taehyung mumbled quietly.
Ashley sighed. It has been almost three months since Taehyung left.

These days, she applied to Seuol National University, confirmed her admission after receiving an acceptance letter, arranged a student visa, and moved to Seoul after finding an apartment. She started her course a month ago and applied to different hospitals for a consultant position.
She almost got approved everywhere, but she chose the one close to the university.

Taehyung was still out on the tour. It was almost coming to the end, and Ashley already decided to join his final concert in seuol.

Everything was ok but the only problem was - she didn't tell Taehyung about her moving here. This was the surprise she told him back then.
She is kind of tense, what his expression would be?
Does that act make her too clingy??

" What happened, Tae? You seem tired."

"Nothing," Taehyung sighed again. "I just want to hold your hands right now. So bad."

"Don't make me sad now," Ashley sighed too. "I am missing you too."

"Days are so long."

"You must be tired after the practice," Ashley was a bit tensed.

"Can't feel my limbs and dying for a nap," Taehyung fake whined.

"When are you coming back?" Ashley smiled.

"At the beginning of the next month. Still got four concerts left."

"Except for the final?"

"Yeah. I'll have a vacation after that."

"For how many days?"

"Quite a few days," chuckled Taehyung. "I want to see you then."

"You will get your surprise this time," Ashley smiled to herself.

"You have been telling it for the last few months. How much time I have to wait?"

"First, get back to Korea," Chuckled Ashley.

"How is your study? Is it hard?"
Taehyung knows she started her doctoral program.

"It's nothing compared to you. How about you? Taking care of yourself?"

"Yeah. That's the main priority here. I am hella tired and it's getting on my nerve. I want all this over soon."

"Yeah, me too," Ashley came out of the apartment and locked the door.

She put the earphone on and shoved the phone down her pocket.
There was no reply from the other end.

"Tae?" no reply.
"You there?" still not.

Heavy slow breathing answered her this time.
He already dozed off.

She smiled. It happens sometimes.
She didn't cut the call this time. She hopped on the bus and took a seat beside the window on the way to the university with deep sleepy whispery breathing in her ears. It was her healing time, her peace.

So here, I had these images in my mind while writing about Ashley's apartment.